The Environmental Protection Agency is working with the state of Oklahoma and the Quapaw Nation to create a plan to advance the cleanup of the Tar Creek Superfund site. The EPA announced the new cleanup plan on Monday. The site is contaminated with mining waste with the EPA buying out the residents and businesses located in two towns in the area and beginning the arduous cleanup efforts.
“The continued success of the cleanup at Tar Creek reflects the ongoing, cooperative partnership among EPA, the state of Oklahoma, the Quapaw Nation, and local stakeholders,” said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Idsal. “This plan renews our focus, further propels the cleanup progress, and ultimately achieves greater results for Ottawa County.”
The Tar Creek superfund site was put on the EPA Administrator’s Emphasis List in 2017.
“ODEQ, alongside our partners at EPA and the Quapaw Tribe, continues to work toward solutions in the Tar Creek area for the betterment of citizens’ lives and the environment,” said Oklahoma DEQ Executive Director Scott Thompson. “The new strategic plan is an important tool to help achieve our goal of a safer, cleaner Oklahoma.”
“I consider my effort to address the crisis at Tar Creek one of my most significant accomplishments, and I am glad that the EPA, working with the Quapaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma, is continuing to make it a top priority,” said Senator Jim Inhofe. “This strategic plan is testament to the work between the EPA and stakeholders to further address the site and takes important steps to ramp up the improvement progress and provide the Quapaw Nation with more control of their lands.”
The EPA is taking public comment over the next 30 days on the Tar Creek Strategic Plan.
The Tar Creek Superfund website can be found here.
